Ed Murray: ‘Cozy cronyism’

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While our attention has been focused on the continuous outrage occurring in Washington, D.C., the citizens of Seattle have overlooked the cozy cronyism in our own city.

Councilmember M. Lorena González informed Mayor Ed Murray in July that she would ask for his resignation. This coincided with The Seattle Times story about the 1984 Oregon child-welfare report alleging suspicion of Murray and child abuse. Yet it was not until Sept. 12 that Murray resigned. The documentation of what occurred during those dates is deeply disturbing, even shameful.

The lack of moral discretion by members of the Seattle City Council and the letter from former Seattle mayors supporting Murray’s continuance of his term show the myopia and lack of skepticism that allows accused predators to stay in power. I was disappointed to see that Councilmember Tim Burgess did not support González and that former Mayor Norm Rice signed former Mayor Charles Royer’s letter. Both of these men I hold in high regard. Many — even current Mayor Jenny Durkan, who had accepted Murray’s endorsement — refused to denounce an accused predator because of preconceived alliances.

The hypocrisy of this, particularly in light of the #MeToo campaign, should call our political leaders to account.